Spain slams 'selfish' EU response as Ceuta migrant crisis escalates, prompting emergency meeting

Spain has strongly criticized the European Union's response to an unprecedented influx of migrants into its North African enclave of Ceuta, labeling some reactions as "selfish, polarizing, and unlawful." Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez sent a letter to top EU officials, expressing serious concern over the disunity among member states and condemning calls by some nations, including Italy, Finland, and Denmark, to suspend Spain from the Schengen free-travel zone. This criticism emerged after approximately 50,000 to 60,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta from Morocco within a 24-48 hour period, overwhelming local resources and resulting in at least 34 to 67 deaths.

In response to the escalating crisis, Spain urged an urgent meeting of EU interior ministers to establish a coordinated European approach to border management. This emergency meeting was subsequently convened for Tuesday. Meanwhile, 22 other EU leaders also signed a separate letter calling for emergency talks, emphasizing the need for stronger external border protection and expressing concerns about national regularization schemes that might act as pull factors for irregular migration.

Spanish authorities managed to regain control of the border within 48 hours, with the majority of migrants being returned to Morocco, and began installing a 500-meter floating barrier. The mass crossing was reportedly influenced by relaxed Moroccan border controls and a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling on migrant returns, significantly dwarfing a similar event in May 2021.